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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

WHO GREW MY SOUP?

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


Ask your child where their food comes from.

Chances are they will say the grocery store.

Most adults don't have a clue where the food on their plate comes from either. 


 Suggestions:
  
  • Take the family to pick apples or blueberries or strawberries.
  • Shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at a local Farmer's Market.
  • Help your child plant your own vegetable garden at home, or rent a space in a community garden.
  • Visit a farm and talk with a farmer.
  • Read books and articles about real farmers who grow our food.

Campbell Soup Company underwrote a book project,"Who Grew My Soup?" (by Tom Darbyshire)..."in hopes that children of all ages will learn to love to eat their vegetables."  

I shared the book with children and teachers in one of my STORYTELLING concerts at a preschool harvest festival.  

Before I even started reading this book - I pulled out my big can of Campbell's Vegetable Soup and ask the children to name what was inside the can. Most could not. 

One child guessed:  "Chicken nuggets?"

I wrote a review of  "Who Grew My Soup?"  for Amazon.com.
 
 
Tom Darbyshire is an Senior Vice President, Senior Creative Director at BBDO-New York, where he and his colleagues are responsible for the development of advertising that Campbell Soup Company  uses to promote its soups. 



Here is my review as it now appears on Amazon.com...



"Who Grew My Soup" 
-- A Must-have Book for Oral Storytellers

I invite my audiences (children and adults alike) to become part of the storytelling experience, and as I read -- I request that they:

1) Mimic Phineas Quinn's facial expressions. C.F. Payne's unique, Norman-Rockwell-like illustrations are priceless.
2) Repeat key phrases like, "Who grew my soup?"
and
3) Finish the last word of some sentences. Tom Darbyshire's rhymes are fun to read! The audience is so involved that when I purposely leave off the last word they finish my sentence with the appropriate rhyme. Example: "Phin, meet Farmer Perez, his thumbs are quite green, the tomatoes he grows are the best ever...." and the children add......"seen!"

Before I even start reading this book - I pull out my big can of Campbell's Vegetable Soup and ask the children to name what is inside the can. Most could not.

One guessed, "Chicken nuggets."

I give the children (preschool and elementary) several words to LISTEN for in the story. Here are the ones I chose for "Who Grew My Soup" -- Yuck, Gunk, Boogers, Icky...and that list is from the second page! Of course, boogers is their favorite.

I'm delightfully surprised that someone in corporate America could have written this story. Congratulations to the author, Tom Darbyshire, and to his wife, two daughters, and two dogs, who he must have listened to to write such true-to-life dialogue.

Adult comments after storytelling concerts reveal that they love the story as much as the children. This is a book that not only professional storytellers will love - but parents, teachers, and grandparents will want to share with their own picky eaters!

My personal thanks to Campbell Soup Company who underwrote this book project..."in hopes that children of all ages will learn to love to eat their vegetables."

Marcia Norwood
STORYTELLER  




 Click on this link to read my review on Amazon.com:

Help Grow Your Soup


Mr. Darbyshire  read my review, and contacted me to thank me.  He also sent me an autographed copy of his book. 


Dear Marcia,

The folks at Campbell’s passed along your very kind review of Who Grew My Soup.  I loved your tips about how to use it in storytelling.  I just visited several elementary schools last week in my hometown in Georgia and sharing the book with the kids was great fun.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Your note is one more thing I have to be thankful for!

If you would like an autographed copy, I would be delighted to send you one.  Just give me your mailing address.

Tom Darbyshire
BBDO
 






Ask you child where their food comes from.

You might be surprised at their answers.

I would love to hear them!   

Thanks for stopping by!  
Come back often, and bring a friend. 

Marcia Norwood  
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking
Email:  marcia.norwood@sbcglobal.net
 



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